Alarming Rise in Five Types of Cancers among Australian Millennials Linked to Obesity

A concerning trend has emerged over the past three decades, showing a significant increase in the diagnosis of five different types of cancers among Australian Millennials. A recent analysis conducted by The Daffodil Centre has shed light on this issue.

Between 1991 and 2021, there has been a notable surge in the incidence of bowel, kidney, uterus, gallbladder, and pancreas cancers among individuals aged 30 to 39. The findings reveal that the rate of bowel cancer diagnoses has risen from six cases per 100,000 individuals to over 15 cases per 100,000, representing a staggering increase of 153 percent.

The Australian Financial Review reported that all five types of cancer are strongly associated with poor dietary choices, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles. Professor Graham Giles, a distinguished research fellow at the Cancer Council of Victoria, warned about the growing epidemic of obesity in Australia, emphasising its dire consequences. He compared the necessary efforts to address this issue to monumental challenges such as altering the course of the Titanic or mitigating climate change.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, approximately 12.5 million adults in the country are classified as overweight or obese. The analysis highlighted other alarming statistics, including a 200 percent increase in gallbladder cancer cases among Australians in their 30s (from 0.1 cases per 100,000 people to 0.3 cases), a 168 percent increase in uterine cancer cases (from 1.9 to 5.1), an 89 percent increase in kidney cancer cases (from 1.9 to 3.6), and an 83 percent increase in pancreas cancer cases (from 0.6 to 1.1).

These findings serve as a wake-up call regarding the detrimental impact of obesity on the health of Australian Millennials, urging the need for proactive measures to address this concerning trend and promote healthier lifestyles.